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One thing that makes emergencies a challenge to deal with is that they’re unexpected and unpredictable. As a result, you may not know how to react to manage the situation. Read on to find out what you should never do in an emergency to ensure you remain practical and achieve the best outcome.

Panic

Firstly, when things go wrong, you should ensure you stay calm despite the nature of the emergency. Panic can cause you to miss many things that can go wrong during a critical event. It’s natural for panic to be your first reaction; however, remaining calm can produce better results.

According to research, an immediate threat is one of the main circumstances that could interplay in your mind to trigger panic. As much as panic is difficult to control, it’s necessary to know how to avoid increasing avoidable risks during an emergency. Here are a few ways to manage panic when faced with an uncontrollable situation:

• Take deep breaths to minimise accelerated breathing that can increase your fear. Deep breathing can help lower increased stress levels during an emergency.
• Recognise that you are in a panic. This can help you focus on practical ways to control your reaction.
  Close your eyes for a moment to block out any external triggers until you feel calmer to face the situation.
• Be mindful of what’s happening around you. Paying attention to what’s happening in front of you is crucial.
• Focus on who needs help and use your iER App to access emergency service providers.

Underestimating the Danger

Underestimating the nature of an emergency can lead to devastating consequences. Risks can occur when you assume you have things under control. For instance, you can ignore information to avoid a dangerous road because you think it’s not that bad.

However, an accident that could have been avoided can occur and cause severe injuries. Underestimating danger can lead to loss of life that could have been avoided. It’s crucial to listen to authorities and gather information before you head to an emergency scene or a known danger zone.

Reacting too Fast

Sometimes, panic can lead to reactions that aren’t thought out carefully. For example, you might feel like you don’t have enough time to do something like moving someone who’s been injured. However, reacting too quickly can aggravate a situation.

If anyone is injured, you are advised to wait for emergency service providers to stabilise the victim. Proper medical care should be administered before anyone severely injured can be moved from the accident scene. The most important thing you can do is use your iER App to access appropriate medical and non-medical emergency service providers for stabilisation.

Forget About Checklists and Safety Protocol

Knowing how to handle yourself when facing an emergency is always ideal. For example, you can have first-aid skills training to help you cope with a crisis. Yet, when the time comes, panic can make you forget about the checklists and safety protocols you know.

Emergencies usually strike when you least expect it. It’s essential to remember always to follow emergency safety procedures.

Ignoring Communication

Knowing how to handle yourself when facing an emergency is always ideal. For example, you can have first-aid skills training to help you cope with a crisis. Yet, when the time comes, panic can make you forget about the checklists and safety protocols you know.

Emergencies usually strike when you least expect it. It’s essential to remember always to follow emergency safety procedures.

In summary, emergencies can take a toll on anyone when they happen. It’s normal to be afraid and panic when facing a challenging situation. However, you should try your best to remain calm and know what you shouldn’t do to improve your chances of survival.

The iER App is South Africa’s leading free emergency response app that you can download on your smartphone. You can connect to over 13,000 emergency services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.